Salary Increase Draws Criticism Superintendent Gets Raise

A $4,000 raise for Pennridge Superintendent John E. Slattery drew the ire of one school board member last night as the board raised wages and salaries for most non-teachers.

"The philosophy here seems to be if you just keep breathing in and out you're going to get another raise," Willard E. Buck said, criticizing raises for Slattery and three administrative assistants.

He cast the only votes against pay increases for all administrators.

But other board members defended Slattery's raise.

The raise brings Slattery's salary to $54,000. He is entering his fifth year as Pennridge's top administrator.

Meanwhile, board solicitor James C. Bowen said a state mediator has been appointed to help break the impasse in contract negotiations between the board and the district's 315 teachers.

Bowen warned that there is little hope for a settlement so long as the board offers 19.3 percent in salary increases over two years while teachers want 47.7 percent over three years.

"I'm not too optimistic about anything being accomplished with the disparity of figures as they exist," Bowen said.

Bowen, who recently was appointed the board's chief negotiator, said both sides decided to ask the state Bureau of Mediation to intervene after meeting July 2.

Mediator Robert F. Houck has been appointed and both sides are waiting for him to schedule the next bargaining session, Bowen said.

The teachers' two-year contract expired June 30. Negotiators for the board and the Pennridge Education Association, which represents the teachers, have met 19 times since contract talks opened in January.

Teachers make an average of $25,807, according to board figures. The teachers' demands were criticized by about a half-dozen residents.

"I think you've offered the sun, moon and stars to the teachers and I wouldn't offer every planet as well," said Helen Grim of Hilltown Township. She suggested that the board pay teachers according to their merit and recruit substitute teachers from a 50-mile radius to ensure that school opens "with or without the cooperation of the PEA."

Her remarks were applauded by most of the 40 people at the meeting.

Buck's criticism of Slattery's salary raise also drew applause from most of the residents. Buck complained that Slattery's salary has risen from $42,000 to $54,000 in four years. "I don't see how we can justify giving anyone an 8 percent raise when the inflation rate in this country is between 2 and 3 percent," he said.

But board President Walter Wurster said the salary reflects the job Slattery is doing. "You don't find people running $20-million businesses making this kind of salary," Wurster said. "They're making much more than that."

Wurster also said Slattery is among the lowest-paid superintendents in Bucks County.

The latter increase, however, will be delayed until the seventh pay, reducing the cost to the district during the second year to 6.07 percent.

The 15 members of the administration association - lower-level administrators - were voted increases of 7.65 percent next year and 8.7 percent in 1986-87. Their second increase will be delayed until the seventh pay, too, reducing the district's cost to 6.75 percent.

Cafeteria workers received wage increases of 2.5 to 6 percent for next year, making their pay range $4.50 to $6.75 per hour.

Secretaries were voted a 8.09 percent pay increase next year. The average salary for full- and part-time secretaries is $11,170, Stubbs said.